Off to Haydock tomorrow, anyone got any tips on who to look out for?

Could be a day for favs with Dunraven Storm and Clerks Choice think What A Friend and Nacarat might have something to say in the big one.

Grands Crus could take some stopping if coming out of last race well, Tasheba in the same race looks a nice E/W bet.

Only one bet for me so far which I put on in the week Restless Harry 20/1 E/W at Ascot.

Clerks Choice looked very impressive LTO, won with a lot in hand against two highly thought of opponents - Barizan already had good form in the book.

If he was trained by a certain Ditcheat or Seven Barrows handler he would not be 25/1 for the Champion Hurdle.

33/1 with Paddy Power. It's exactly what Michael Banks said before his last outing but I'm not sure he's proved so far he's a genuine champion contender.

Have a good bet on Herdsman for Hobbs/Hemmings/Johnson in the finale.

Peddler's Cross won the race for McCain 2009 but the previous year the Herdsman connections landed a nice touch with the potentially top class Dare Me (unbeaten over hurdles in 2010) the previous year.

According To Pete (14:50 Haydock) is worth a bet too each-way. He won this race in 2008 and it's one of the few big handicaps run over the Fixed Brush Hurdles that seem to suit chasers down to the ground. He's back down to the same mark (132) as when successful that day. He's been out of form since but was beaten less than 5 lengths at Bangor in March off 135 behind the useful Mith Hill and whilst his seasonal re-appearance in a Wetherby's listed handicap chase wasn't amazing his trainer (Malcolm Jefferson) is in much better form now (2 from 21 in October - one of those was 4/7) whilst he's (6 from 24 so far in November). The yard has a 17% strike rate at the track and at 23/1 to win on Betfair and 20/1 each-way with the books he looks well worth a 2 points win 1 point place bet

Haydock 1.15 Pret A Thou 9/1 E/W

Backed it when it won over hurdles last time out to get ready for this, went really well over fences last season winning 5 times.

Ascot 2.35 Restless Harry 20/1 E/W

Backed this in the week because I thought it was a nice E/W bet, very good novice last season needs to have improved alot to win though but trainer has been positive about him.

Ascot 3.10 Tatenen 10/1 E/W

With new yard ran ok on first run, dropped back to 2 miles which is the distance it impressed at as a novice winning twice, went off fav in the Arkle only to fall and then came 2nd at Aintree next time out, Nicholls was certain it wanted 3 miles so will be interesting to see how it gets on, needs to have improved jumping but anything like its run to 151 this time last year off 6lbs higher would give it a chance.


Doubles and 62/1 acca for the favs

Dunraven Storm @ 4/6
Clerk's Choice @ 8/13
Grands Crus @ 13/8
Imperial Commander @ 10/11
Master Minded @ 1/1
Charminster @ 11/8

I've gone against a few of the short priced ones today...

Gone for Toubab in the opener against Dunraven Storm...favourite has without doubt the best form in the book but backing up after a short amount of time and conceding weight to a horse described as 'one of the best maidens in training' by his trainer, I'm happy to take on the favourite.

Also gone against Master Minded...he could well win it in a hack canter but was disappointing last term and until I've seen evidence on a racecourse that he's over those problems I couldn't back him at todays odds. Plus he's a champion 2 miler and the extra 3 furlongs may well find him out against Albertas Run who should be about spot on to take this as he did last year.

Gonna back the other two..Imperial Commander and Clerks Choice!


I now expect to go and play football, come home and discover the two favourites I've backed against have won and the two I have backed have been turned over!

ZAYNAR
GRANDS CRUS
WOOLCOMBE FOLLY
HITCHENS

Didn't have chance to get to the bookies or study the RP so not gonna bother today. Got in from work just as they were going down for the 2.05 at Ascot.

Master Minded looked excellent, every fence he was near perfect. Couldn't have had much on him at odds on though, always been a big fan of his since he won his first Champion Chase. Hopefully he is back to his best, may have a bet on him when he runs in the Tingle Creek and hope he proves me right. Not reading much in to todays race though apart from it being a nice little confidence boost for the horse, the horses that finished behind him are nothing to get excited about.

Don't know what McCoy was playing at on Albertas Run, what a sickening fall, I didn't think the horse was going to get up from it TBH. Fehily was keeping Master Minded on the pace of Albertas Run and McCoy decided to force the pressure even more, the horse didn't look comfortable and the fall was an absolute sickener - driven into the fence and barely made it off the ground.

Imperial Commander should take the Betfair Chase. Will be interesting to see how What A Friend fares though. Race to watch for me though. IC is too short to take at that price on his seasonal return, and with WAF being rated about a stone and a half less than IC, off level weights I would want a bit more than 3/1 - I would want at least some EW value.

Backed Silviano Conti the last twice, so would've followed him again today. Bugger.

Hoping for a big run from Chief Dan George in the Betfair, got him at 100/1 on Wednesday been backed into 33s now. I know it's a massive ask but he was never a 100/1 shot.

3 from 4 not bad for me today shame zaynar couldnt win though...dont think ill be backing him again!

grands crus very impressive again

master minded looks back to best

not too impresses with imperial commander... still kauto for me.